Sexual Development of Coturnix as Affected by Changes in Photoperiods

Abstract

THE suitability of Japanese quail (Coturnix c. japonica) for laboratory studies in physiology has recently been discussed by us (Wilson et al., 1959). In that paper, brief mention was made of the suitability of the bird for studies on photoperiodic responses. The purpose of this paper is to present our findings on the effect of various photoperiods on the sexual development and reproductive performance of Coturnix. MATERIALS AND METHODS Quail eggs were hatched in a commercial type incubator. During their first two weeks of artificial brooding, the young quail were exposed continuously to artificial illumination from a 100-watt bulb which was suspended near the 5-decked battery brooder. The light intensity ranged from 1 to 5 footcandles, the lowest deck having the lowest intensity. They were fed U.C. poult crumbled starter mash until five weeks of age and then changed to turkey breeder mash or crumbles. The birds were from three …